The working group on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will hold its first meeting on March 17 in Beijing, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Tuesday.

 

The meeting will precede the sixth round of six-party talks that will begin on March 19, Qin said.

 

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei will head the working group, said Qin at a regular press conference.

 

During the last round of talks, the six parties adopted a joint statement, and later reached consensus on the initial steps to implement the joint statement.

 

The steps included establishing five working groups, which will discuss the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea relations with the US and Japan, the economic and energy resources cooperation, and peace and security of Northeast Asia.

 

Qin said, he hoped all the working groups will report to the meeting of chief envoys on March 19.

 

Some issues may be submitted for discussion during the meeting of chief envoys from the six participating countries, namely China, the US, Russia, Japan, North and South Korea, Qin added.

 

The time frame for the new round of six-party talks will depend on the progress being made, Qin said, adding that no detailed arrangements have been made for the upcoming talks.

 

Qin said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei met UN's chief nuclear inspector to Pyongyang, Mohamed El Baradei, on March 12 and briefed him on recent developments.

 

Qin said Baradei's visit to Pyongyang is an important step for North Korea and the IAEA and he hopes Baradei's visit will achieve positive results.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2007)